Method and device for laying and renewing railroad tracks



P. COLLET ET AL METHOD AND DEVICE FOR LAYING AND RENEWING RAILROAD TRACKS March 1, 1932.

2 3.930 ,6 Sheeis-Sheet 1 Filed Nov.

0 7$ Ila/seam March 1, 1932. P. COLLET ET AL METHOD AND DEVICE FOR LAYING AND RENEWING RAILROAD TRACKS Filed Nov. 24, 1930 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 W s I I T a wtmM MQ fi I Tr: 0 Mi V1 an M P i) win Mamh R, 1932. P. CZOLLET ET AL 847,818

METHOD AND ISEVICE FOR LAYING AND RENEWING RAILROAD TRACKS Filed Nov. 24, .1950 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 March 1, 1932. P. COLLET ET AL 1,847,818

METHOD AND DEVICE FOR LAYING AND REHEWING RAILROAD TRACKS Filed Nov. 24, 1930 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Mania 1, 1932;

P. CQLLET ET AL METHOD AND DEVICE FOR LAYING AND RENEWING RAILROAD TRACKS Filed Nov. 24, 1950 6 SheetsSheet arch i, 1932. P. COLLET ET AL 1347318 METHOD AND DEVICE FOR LAYING AND RENEWING RAILROAD TRACKS Filed Nov. 24, 1930 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Fi i/3 i aw, ,W MW

Patented Mar. 1, 1932 U'NHTED STATES PATENT OFFICE PIERRE ooLLEr Ann RENE LoIs EAU, 0F PARIS, FRANCE, ASSIGNORS 'ro LES FILS DALBERT corLnnorrAn-rs, FRANCE, A con-rormrronor' FRANCE METHOD AND DEVICE FORLAYING AND RENEWING RAILROAD TRACKS Application filed Ltl'ovember 24,.1930, Serial No. 497,938, and in France November 30, 1929.

For renewing track material, the method of operation is generally as follows: the new material, such as rails, ties and sundries used for replacing wornmaterial in service are distributed beforeassembly along the line'to be renewed. In the intervals between the passage of two trains, the used track portions are removed and replaced by new portions which are assembled in situ; the worn rails and sundry materials are laid toithe side of the railroad and the worn ties on the banks. 7 y

This method isa slow one and it is generally: possible to replace only a small track length between the passage of two trains. The transportation of the material along the railroad is also a. costly operation. The sides of the railroad are stocked with new material before the work is done: andv with worn material after replacement by the new material. v "Our invention has for its object to remove these drawbacks. It consists in. bringing considerable lengths of previously assembled tracks, with the rails bolted to the ties and the fish-plates showing a suflicient' play to the place of assembly, the transportation being effected along the extant rails. If possible, considerable lengths of the Worn track to be replaced are removed bodily over the extant rails.

A form of execution of our invention is shown in accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is diagrammatical showing of the principle of our invention.

Figures 2 and 3 are cross-sectional and side-views of a roller to be used for trans portation of the assembled track portion.

Figures 4 and 5 are respectively a plan and a cross-sectional vertical View illustrating the method used for transporting the new track portion from the workshop on the part of the railroad requiring repair whereby it needs simply to be pushed on the track for bringin it to-the place of assembly.

Figure 6 is a detail view of the transfe bars.

Figure 7 shows aform of execution of the wheeled frame used for laying aportion of track.

Figure 8 is a modification thereof.

Figure 9 shows the wheeled frame of Figure 8 when used for transportation of the service track.

Figure 10 shows the cross-bar used for the service track when laying the rails.

Figures lland 12 are respectively a crosssectional and a side-view of a modification wherein the rail portion is secured to rollers provided with auxiliary ties, as ready for transportation.

Figure 13 shown in two parts 13a, 13b, and Figure 14 are corresponding cross-sectional and side-views of an improved wheeled frame provided with a raising device and with cross-bars guided vertically in slides carried by rollers.

Lastly, Figure 15 shows an ordinary wheeled frame ready for laying, removing and transporting the service track.

According to our invention, we replace for instance in a single operation a track portion CD (Figure l) of the line AB which is to be renewed, said portion being 150 m. long for instance; A and B are the end stations to be connected by the new track while the worn track is removed towards B with a view to its dismantling. A temporary service track EE', FF disposed, as shown in Figure 1, with reference to the part CD to be replaced serves as a path for a wheeled frame used for laying and removing track portions. The operation is diagrammatically as follows the new track portion is rolled on the main track (for instance by means of rollers to be described hereinafter) in the part HG. The worn track portion CD, separated from the main track, is hung to the wheeled frame, raised through the required amount, moved forward with the wheeled frame over the portion DI and set in sliding position over the main track leading towards B, for instance through the agency of-supporting rollers running over said track. The worn track is then disconnected and removed from the wheeled frame and transported towards B on the main track. -The wheeled frame'is returned towards A into the position for which the new track portion disposed at HG may be hung to it.

like parts supporting it, is carried over CD by the wheeled frame, after which it is lowered and connected with the track in place.

The wheeled'frame is designed in a manner such that its wheels may be brought nearer one another for allowing its running over the main track, while carrying its own service rails. it is therefore suilicient, when it is desired to replacethe tract: portion DI for instance, to make the wheeled frame move its service track towards B through the length of the portion D1.

In the case of the progressive laying of a new track, in which case the track portion such as DB does not exist, it necessary to advance the service rail each time through a length equal-to that of a track portion, without using the wheeled frame. .VVe will disclose hereinafter one of the methods which may be used therefor.

- lVe may use rollers such those shown in Figures 2 and 3 for carryi a portion of new track during its transportation between the workshop or station A where the rails are assembled and the part HG where it is hung to the wheeled frame, and for carryingthe worn track portion cl ring its transportation towards the station The roller itself 1 is carried by the shaft 2 wirhthe interposition of ball bearings. This shaft carries the strap 4t extension of which forms the pivot 5 rotatably supported by the base 6. This base is secured to the rail on one;v side, by means of the hooloshaped part 7 and on the other by the bar 8 provided with a-flange 9. When this bar is pushed lon itudinally, it engages the foot of the rail through the flange 8 and the inside of th flange 10 formed on the base 6.

The interval between the two flanges 7 and 10 is greater at one endof the base than at the other and'thus,by pushing the bar 8 from the side where the spacing is the greater, the base is given a more cbnsiderable grip over the foot of the rail. The roller strap is provided with locking means allowing it to be locked in four different angular positions at 90 from each other; for two of these positions, the roller shaft is perpendicular to the rail and for two others, it is parallel thereto. This arrangement comprises a collar 11 secured to the strap i and showing four recesses of which three, 12, 13, 14, are illustrated, the fourth being diametrically opposed to the recess 13, A bolt 15, ro ,tatably carried at 16 by the base 6. engages, when the apparatus is in operative position, one of these recesses, so as to lock the strap with reference to its base. To change the arugular position of the roller shaft, it is sufficient to release the bolt by raising it th rou securing a suiiioient number of such rollers on the rails of a track portion, said rails being assembled with their ties, the arrangement forms a rolling frame which may be easily placed over the extant rails, so as to be brought where required.

Generally, the mounting of the track portion is provided at a workshop outside the main track. It is therefore necessary to transport this portion, so as to bring it in travelling position on the main track. The portion T (Figure 1) is mounted on pairs of rollers gg g'g gg" etc. .the axes of which are parallel to the rails of the track portion T. There are disposed transversely, with reference to the track T, rail elements or shifting bars such as r, 1", 1", the spacing of these elements being for instance the same as that of the rollers gg g'g gg The position of one of these rail elements with reference, say to the main track, is illus trated in Figure 5. Figure 6 is a sim lar view inthe case ofshifting' bars.-

The track portion provided with its rollers is first mounted on the rail elements 130*, 1', as shown in Figure 4. This track portion is then pushed until the rails forming it are just over the rails of the main track. Then in this position, the arrangement formed by the track. portion and the supporting rollers is raised through jacks through a height sufficient to allow an easy removal of the rails 1", r, r". This removal being effected, the supporting rollers are rotated through 90?. in. the desired direction, whereby the track portion and supporting rollers are adapted to roll along the main track. It is sufiicient therefore to lower the arrangement by means of the ac l rs until the rollers rest on the rails of the main track. 7

We have explained hereinabove that, when the track portion carried by the rollers has arrived in the part HC, it is necessary to use a wheeled frame first for removing the worn portion and secondly for laying the new track portion. The wheeled frame may comprise a series of. elements constituted each by a cross-bar 21 carried by straps 23 provided with rollers 22,: jacks 24 being interposed between the straps 23 and the crossbar 21. It is therefore easy, by acting on these jacks, to compensate the difference in level between the two rails of the service track used for the wheeled frame. These jacks are also used for raising the cross-bar whenrequired. The spacing of the rollers 22 may be modified in order to allow them to rest either on the service rails for laying and removing purposes or elseon the main track for transportation of the service rails.

For removing a worn track portion, the wheeled frame is brought over this portion which is separated from the remainder of the track; the worn rails, assembled on their tl 1e, des ired height.,.; It is apparent that, byties, are hung to the cross-bars 21 of thei:

-lOO Wheeled frame and these cross-bars are then raised through the agency of the jacks until the worn portion is suiliciently above the track for the rollers when set on the said portion to be higher than the track itself. The rollers are set on the worn portion either before or after the wheeled frame is displaced for bringing the worn track portion towards DI. The track portion,"provided with its rollers, being brought ovcr'the said part DI, it is suflicient to lower it enough for the rollers supporting it to rest on the rails of the main track. The worn portion is then separated from the wheeled frame which is returned backwards over the part HG; the new portion CD is then laid through the agency of the wheeled frame in a manner exactly reverseto that described.

We have shown in Figures 8 and 9 a wheeled frame similar to that described, pro vided with improved raising devices for raising and transporting either the portion to be laid or removed or the service rails. Each of these devices 25 or 26 is carried on a support 27 disposed perpendicularly to the cross-bars and adapted, when loaded, to move over same. It comprises a worm 28 controlled by a hand-Wheel 29 meshing with a drum 30 provided with a helical thread. The lever 31, keyed to the shaft of this drum, carries the supporting arm 32 to which it is pivoted at 33. To the lower end of the arm 32, are pivotally secured the jaws of pincers 34, means being provided for moving the jaws towards or away from each other. Any other raising method may be used such as a screw and nut of suitable pitch. In Figure 8 the wheeled frame rests on the service rails and a track portion hangs from the raising device 25 either with a view to remove it, in the case of a worn portion, or else to lay it, in the case of a new portion, the method used being that described hereinabove.

In Figure 9, the wheeled frame is shown ready for transportation. It rests through its rollers on the main track, while the service rails hang from the raising devices 26 carried by the sides of the wheeled frame.

In the case of the progressive laying of a new track, there is no extant main track for transporting the service rails with the wheeled frame. We proceed in this case as follows: the service rails are stayed by crossbars 35 (Figure 10) disposed at intervals and passing over the main track. These crossbars are provided with U-shaped recesses 36 for receiving the head of the corresponding rail to which they are secured by the screws .37. The service rails thus assembled are drawn forward by a tractor and their position is adjusted by means of the marks used for determining the position of the future normal track.

Figure 11 shows a modification of the device used for transporting a railroad track,

1 laid or replaced.

wherein the roller 1 is carried in flanges 41 secured to auxiliary roller-carrying ties 40 by means of angle pieces 42. The ties 40 are secured to each railof the track portion, being transported by means of arrangements of two lovers such as 43, 44, of which one 43 is pivotally secured at 45 to the auxiliary tie and the other 44, which has the cranked shape shown, is pivotally secured at 46 with the lever 43. The end 47 of the lever 44 is forked, so as toshow two arms. A lever 48, l ivotally secured at 49 to the auxiliary tie, carries a ring 50 and a fastening nut 51. The auxiliary tie40 is mounted as follows: when it has been set as desired with reference to the rail, the lever 44 is pushed down over the head of the rail into the position shown in Figure 11, after which the lever 48 is raised and brought inside the arms of the forked end 47 of the lever 44, the ring being disposed over the two arms. The nut 51 is then screwed down. The removal is effected in the reverse manner. "The rollers are preferably secured to the auxiliary tie by any means allowing a speedy mounting and dismantling. These auxiliary ties are used in order to easily move the rollers to'the desiredspacing, and in particular to compensate any difference which may exist betweenthe spacing of the rails of the portion to be laidand that V of the rails on which it rests.

Figures 13 and 14 show a modification of I I the wheeled frame, wherein the rollers 22 have a double bead preventing them from moving off the rails in case of a displacement of the service track. The raising means 25 and 26 comprisea winch controlled by a worm'a'nd a helically toothed drum 52, 53, a cable 54 being wound over the-drum and carrying at its lower end the hook 34.

The cross-bar 21 comprises two U-beams 21a and 21b suitably interconnected and resting on the plate 24 of the jack 24. It is guided laterally by slides 55, 56 carried by the strap of the rollers. The slides guide the cross-bars 21 in a manner such that their axis of symmetry remains constantly vertical when raised by the jacks;

For transporting the service track, we may use, instead of the special wheeled frame described hereinabove, an ordinary wheeled frame the rollers of which are spaced by an interval equal to the gauge of the track to be To this end, we secure, by means of straps, to each cross-bar of the wheeled frame 60 (Figure 15) mounted on rollers 61 spaced as required by the gauge of the track being laid or replaced, a cross-bar 62 overlapping considerably to either side the ties of the track being laid or replaced.

The rail-raising devices serving for the laying, removal and transportation of the service track as described previously, are mounted onthis cross-bar 62, one at each end.

The laying and removal of the service track ends of the cross-bars and vertical slides caris effected as desoribed'hereinabove.

What We claim is 7 I 1. A method for replacing parts of Worn tracks by considerable lengths of previously assembled tracks consisting in transporting over the extant rails to the rear of the part to be replaced the assembled length to be laid, laying a service track parallel to the art to be re Jlaced securin to meansrolling over the service track a length of the track to be replaced, transporting by these means rolling over the service track said secured length, laying said length over the extant rails beyond the part to be replaced, returning the means rolling over the service track to the rear of the part to be replaced, securing the assembled length to be laid to the rolling means, advancing the rolling means over the vacant space in the Worn track and laying down the length to be laid in said vacant space.

. 2. A method as claimed in claim 1, consistmg in assembling the length to be laid 1n proximity of theextant rails, moving it laterally on to the extant rails, and transportv ing it 'over the extant rails to the rear of the part to be replaced.

a 3. A device for transporting a considerable length of previously assembled tracks comprising rollers adapted to run over the extant rails, cross bars carrying the rollers, and means for removably securing the assembled track upon the said cross bars.

' 4. A device for transporting portions of amain track on a service track parallel thereto comprising pairs of rollers adapted to run overthe service rails, cross bars connecting the rollers of a pair, means carried by the said cross bars adapted to carry the portions of the main track and means for adjusting the height of the cross bars.

5. A device for transporting portions of a main track on a service track parallel thereto, comprising pairs of double-beaded rollers, cross-bars connecting the rollers of a pair and adapted to carry the portions of the main track, and means for adjusting the ieight or" the cross-bars.

6. A device for transporting portions of a main track on a service track parallel thereto, comprising pairs of rollers, crossbars connecting the rollers of a pair and adapted to carry the portions of the main track, means for adjusting the height of the cross-bars, Winches carried by the cross-bars, cables Wound over same and adapted to carry the track to be transported and means for controlling the Winches.

7. A device for transporting portions of a main track on a service track parallel thereto, comprising pairs of rollers, crossbars connecting the rollers of a pair and adapted to carry the portions of the main track, jacks for adjusting the height, of the 

